Public sector news in brief

October 29, 2004

IPR: The Institute of Public Relations’ annual ‘Powerful PR’ conference on 9 November is to feature a speech from Wiltshire County Council head of comms Sian Penlington on the council’s first internal comms strategy launched over a year ago. The event takes place at Claridges, London.

ESSEX: Essex County Council has appointed Quay West Communications for the second phase of its Greener Essex campaign following Quay West’s implementation of phase one, ‘Don’t Rubbish Essex’ that encouraged residents to start recycling. Phase two sees Quay West launch ‘Recycling Promises’ for Essex where residents are persuaded to improve their recycling habits by promising to undertake specific recycling activity.

BWEA: The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) is to launch a £100,000 campaign to promote wind power this autumn. From 1 November, over 350 posters will go on display at 120 locations throughout the UK as part of a national PR campaign, Embrace the Revolution. This is the first time a billboard campaign has focused on the issue of wind energy. The campaign concentrates on locations where there is either an existing wind farm or an application to build one.

TOWER HAMLETS: The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has teamed up with the Metropolitan Police, the London Ambulance Service and London Fire and Emergency Planning Unit to run its first fire-safety campaign. Launched last week, the campaign will run up to 5 November and targets boys aged 13-14. Council comms staff are touring schools with a film featuring a South Park-themed cartoon character, who injures himself with a firework.

GREENWICH: The London Borough of Greenwich and Charlton Athletic Football Club are to stage the latest event in their ‘Kick Racism Out of Football’ campaign. When Charlton play Middlesborough this weekend, there will be anti-racist messages displayed on the scoreboard and, at half time, 100 school kids will march on the pitch carrying 50 flags depicting the 50 ethnic groups in the borough.

CHELMSFORD: Chelmsford Borough Council and local bus firm,First in Essex have launched The Chelmsford Travel and Visitor Information Centre. Services offered within the facility include local bus timetable information and bus-ticket purchasing, as well as National Express booking facilities.